The Stranger

Ian Curtis, the brooding, epileptic singer for Joy Division, hanged himself at the age of 23 on the eve of his band's first American tour, leaving behind a wife, a child, and a much obsessed-over musical legacy. Control, the new Curtis biopic directed by longtime rock photographer Anton Corbijn, is surprisingly evenhanded, makes the most of the music, and just looks perfect—as if one of Corbijn's bleak, black-and-white Joy Division stills had come to life. (See Movie Times for details.) by Eric Grandy

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If you're not in the mood for Joanna Newsom's epic, medieval-fantasy song cycles at Benaroya tonight, consider seeing Architecture in Helsinki, Australia's best export since Steve Irwin (RIP). The orch-pop sextet leaps from twee swooning to upside-down funk to aeronautic anthems with energy and ease. The Showbox's spring-loaded floor is sure to be bouncing. Opening is Panther, Portland's absurdist white-boy Prince, and nu-Italo disco darlings Glass Candy. It's an oddly matched but totally brilliant bill. (Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave, 628-0888. 8 pm, $16, all ages.) by Eric Grandy

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What colonialism needed was a good video game. Enter artist Tamiko Thiel, raised in the U.S. and Japan. In her three-dimensional, interactive virtual-reality installation, you become Mariko Horo and images of the Western world are processed through your time-traveling, westbound Japanese eyes—hovering domes of angels and demons in Renaissance churches, photographs of the Vietnamese napalmed girl, and hooded Abu Ghraib prisoners. What sort of place is this? (911 Media Arts Center, 402 Ninth Ave N, 682-6552. Noon–6 pm, free.) by Jen Graves

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Intentions of Murder is by Shohei Imamura, one of the most creative directors of Japan's silver age—a period that runs from about the mid '60s to the early '80s. In his work, primitive forces clash with the law and order of industrial civilization. Intentions of Murder (about a tyrannical librarian and his wife's decision to leave him and kill her rapist) is the sixth film in a two-week series of his work at Northwest Film Forum. Imamura filmed his society—its forces and ruptures—with a style that's liberating. (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. 6:30 and 9:15 pm, $5–$8.50.)

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Rem Koolhaas is the official genius behind the architectural firm OMA. But when OMA designed the Seattle Central Library, the name whispered behind the scenes was Joshua Prince-Ramus. Last year, the dashing young Prince-Ramus (a 36-year-old Seattle native) split up with Koolhaas—and took the old lion's entire New York staff with him. He's here to talk about his new firm REX, collaboration, hyperrationalism, and ongoing plum projects, including a Kentucky museum and a Texas "theater machine." (Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave, 386-4636. 6:30 pm, $12 adv/$15 at the door.) JEN GRAVES

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This film about a botched heist finds Philip Seymour Hoffman at his wretched best as a pleasure-hungry payroll specialist who begins his life of crime by siphoning checks and graduates to robbing his own parents. And that's just the first half hour—things deteriorate from there. The acting is superb, the plot is relentless, and pity and fear crash through in successive waves. It's unadulterated nihilism from 83-year-old director Sidney Lumet. (See Movie Times, page 88, for details.) ANNIE WAGNER

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